Germany boosts security before Christmas

With the approach of Christmas and New Year, police in the German city of Cologne have stepped up their security preparations to prevent a repeat of last year's mob assaults on women.

"On New Year's Eve this year we will have 1,500 officers on duty: 900 from Cologne plus an extra 500 supporting officers. There will be a hundred mobile teams patrolling around the cathedral and the bridges, so that we will be able to intervene quickly if anything happens, and citizens will be able to approach the police and ask for help at any time it is needed," said Dirk Weber, Cologne police spokesman.

Extra security cameras have been installed outside the main train station, the location of most of last year's incidents. Officers will monitor the video feed at police headquarters. Multiple occupancy cells are also ready to house any revellers apprehended by police.

Last year's mob attacks sparked outrage across Germany, with hundreds of women reporting they had been groped, attacked and robbed by gangs of men. The Cologne police chief was forced to resign in the wake of the incident.